Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq grilled for 4 hours in probe by Pakistan's cybercrime department
Pakistan cricket’s misery has deepened further, with senior players Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq reportedly questioned by Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in Lahore as part of an inquiry into alleged dressing-room leaks during the ongoing Test series against England.
According to PTI, the two players were grilled for nearly four hours after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) filed a complaint with the cyber agency. The exact nature of the alleged leaks remains unclear, with the NCCIA yet to publicly disclose details of its investigation.
The development comes amid a major disciplinary upheaval within Pakistan cricket. Following the Lord’s Test, seven players, including Rizwan and Imam, were sent back from England along with two members of the support staff over reported disciplinary concerns.
RIZWAN, IMAM QUESTIONED
Pakistan’s team security manager has reportedly handed over the phones of Rizwan and Imam to the NCCIA as part of the inquiry. According to sources cited by PTI, both players have indicated that they are willing to allow a forensic examination of their devices.
The two senior players have also requested additional time to submit their written responses to the NCCIA’s queries. One of them was reportedly questioned for several hours, while the other has been given until next week to respond to a questionnaire handed to him.
A PCB spokesperson confirmed that the NCCIA was conducting an inquiry into alleged dressing-room leaks but declined to comment further, citing the ongoing nature of the process.
The case is particularly significant as it is reportedly the first time the PCB has filed a complaint with a cyber agency against players from the national team.
The development also comes with an unusual political dimension. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi is also Pakistan’s interior minister, while the NCCIA operates under his ministry.
The PCB had already announced an internal disciplinary inquiry following media reports concerning discipline and conduct within the team.
PAKISTAN’S WOES CONTINUE
The off-field controversy has unfolded against the backdrop of a disastrous Test tour of England for Pakistan. After losing the first Test by an innings and 103 runs, Pakistan were beaten by 194 runs at Lord’s.
The sweeping changes made by the PCB have done little to improve results. Pakistan were bowled out in the second session of the opening day of the Lord’s Test, before England posted 453 runs.
Rizwan has also struggled badly with the bat in recent times, while Imam was involved in an injury-related controversy after suffering a Grade 1 tear in his left calf. His decision to face a few knockdowns despite appearing to struggle physically reportedly drew questions from within the PCB.
The fallout has now extended to domestic cricket as well. Rizwan and Imam are set to miss the Presidents Cup, Pakistan’s premier domestic first-class tournament, which begins on Saturday. While the official reason given by the PCB is that neither player completed the mandatory fitness tests required by their departmental teams, a source within the board said their ongoing NCCIA inquiry was also a factor in them not being cleared to play.
Both players were expected to lead their respective teams in the tournament. However, neither department reportedly possesses a valid fitness report for the players after they did not undergo the required tests. The PCB has made submission of fitness-test reports mandatory for teams participating in first-class cricket.
Rizwan and Imam, along with five other players, were sent home from the England tour after Pakistan’s two Test defeats. Both subsequently appeared before the NCCIA on Thursday as part of the inquiry into alleged dressing-room leaks.
With the investigation now affecting their immediate domestic commitments, the controversy has added another layer to Pakistan cricket’s growing crisis, with the team facing serious questions both on and off the field.
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